Clematis plant named ‘Zo08160’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of hybrid  Clematis  plant named ‘Zo08160’ that is characterized by its very free flowering habit in spring from old wood and in late spring and summer from young shoots, its low growing climbing habit, its light lilac colored flowers with pale yellow stamens, and its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 6.

Botanical classification: Clematis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Zo08160’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to European Community Plant VarietyOffice (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2019/0725 filed onMar. 18, 2019, the entire contents of which is incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Clematisof hybrid origin and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name‘Zo08160’. ‘Zo08160’ is an herbaceous perennial grown for use as alandscape plant.

The new Invention arose from an ongoing controlled breeding program inBoskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is todevelop hybrid cultivars of Clematis with unique and superior gardenattributes. In particular, to develop cultivars that are free floweringfrom old wood in spring and free flowering on young shoots in laterspring.

The Inventor made a cross in 2004 between an unnamed proprietary plantin the Inventor's breeding program, reference no. 19960250 as the femaleparent and reference no. 19990055 as the male parent. The Inventorselected ‘Zo08160’ in 2008, as a single unique plant amongst theseedlings that resulted from the above cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished bysoftwood stem cuttings under the direction of the Inventor in 2008 inBoskoop, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttinghas determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stableand are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish Clematis ‘Zo08160’ as a unique cultivar of Clematis.

-   1. ‘Zo08160’ exhibits a very free flowering habit in spring from old    wood and in late spring and summer from young shoots.-   2. ‘Zo08160’ exhibits a low growing climbing habit.-   3. ‘Zo08160’ exhibits a light lilac colored flowers with pale yellow    stamens.-   4. ‘Zo08160’ exhibits cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 6.

The female parent of ‘Zo08160’ differs from ‘Zo08160’ in having doubleflowers in the spring, flower colors that are pink with dark purplestripes and flowers that are smaller in size. The male parent of‘Zo08160’ differs from ‘Zo08160’ in having flowers that are white incolor and much larger in size. ‘Zo08160’ can be most closely compared tothe Clematis cultivars ‘General Sikorski’ (not patented) and ‘Paola’(not patented). Both are similar to ‘Zo08160’ in having flower color andplant habit. ‘General Sikorski’ differs from ‘Zo08160’ in having flattepal margins and filament bases that are pale violet in color. ‘Paola’differs from ‘Zo08160’ in having flat tepal margins and spring flowersthat are double or semi-double.

STATEMENT DESIGNATING A GRACE PERIOD UNDER 102(b)(1)

The Applicant claims prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) fordisclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one yearprior to the effective filing date if need be. Information about theclaimed plant was obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor; including but not limited to disclosures on websites by J VanZoest, Thorncroft, Taylors Clematis, Dobbies, and Clematis on the web.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Clematis. The photographs weretaken of a two-year-old plant as grown outdoors in a 2-liter rosecontainer in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of ‘Zo08160’ in bloom inspring.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the summer flowers‘Zo08160’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a cross section ofa flower of ‘Zo08160’.

The colors of the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the newClematis.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of two-year-old plants as grownoutdoors in 2-Liter rose containers in Boskoop, The Netherlands. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic and cultural conditions, as the cultivar has not been testedunder all possible environmental conditions. The color determination isin accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—4 to 6 weeks in spring and throughout            summer when pruned after spring flowering in The            Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous woody perennial, blooms on new shoots            and old wood.        -   Plant habit.—Low growing climber.        -   Height and spread.—A three-year-old plant reaches an average            of 2 m in height and 0.75 m in width.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 6.        -   Diseases and pests.—No disease or pest problems have been            observed, however susceptibility to Clematis wilt (caused by            Phoma sp.)        -   Root description.—Fleshy, N167C and NN155D in color.        -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.        -   Time required for root initiation.—Roots develop in 6 weeks            in summer under greenhouse conditions.        -   Time required for root development.—90 days to fully develop            a 7-cm container from a 5 cm cutting.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Round with 6 ribbed angles.        -   Stem color.—Young; N77B, mature; 166A to 187A.        -   Stem size.—Up to 2 m in length, 3 mm in width.        -   Stem surface.—Young; densely pubescent, villous at the tip,            mature; sparsely pubescent with short hairs.        -   Internode length.—Up to 11 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong and slightly flexible, cracks at a 25°            angle.        -   Branching.—From the base.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Ternate.        -   Leaf size.—Up to 18 cm in length and 14 cm in width.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaflet size.—Up to 7 cm in length, up to 4 cm in width.        -   Leaflet base.—Side leaflets; suboblique, terminal leaflets;            subcordate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaflet venation.—Slightly reticulate, both surfaces match            leaf color.        -   Leaflet quantity.—3.        -   Leaflet margin.—Entire.        -   Leaflet surface.—Upper surface; sparsely hairy, veins            densely covered with short hairs, lower surface; glossy and            densely covered with short hairs.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper and lower surface; 146B, mature            upper surface; 147A, mature lower surface; 147B.        -   Petioles.—Up to 9 cm in length, 1.5 mm in diameter, N37C and            N77A in color, round and slightly canaliculate in shape,            curled to straight aspect, just slightly connate by means of            ribs from the petiole that touch each other on the stem            base, surface pubescent.        -   Petiolules.—Rounded in shape, 137C in color, curling to            straight, terminal leaflet up to 4 cm in length, side            leaflets up to 1 cm in length, 1 mm in diameter, surface            pubescent.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary or a 3-flowered dichasial cyme.        -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Terminal and axillary on young            shoots.        -   Inflorescence size.—Up to 15 cm in length, 15 cm in width            and 5 cm in depth when a 3-flowered cyme.        -   Peduncles.—Up to 4 mm in length and 2 mm in width, 146A and            166A in color, round to very slightly ribbed in shape,            surface pubescent, strong.        -   Pedicels.—Up to 8 cm in length, 2 mm in diameter, 146D,            tinged N77A in color, round in shape, surface pubescent,            strong.        -   Flower buds.—Upright, ovate in shape, acuminate apex, obtuse            base, up to 5 cm in length and 1.7 cm in diameter, 143D,            slightly tinged N77B, surface densely pubescent; less            towards the base with villous seams.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Lastingness of the flowers.—Individual flowers last up to 7            days.        -   Flower quantity.—Average of 50 flowers per plant 3 years in            age.        -   Flower type.—Spreading.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright.        -   Flower shape.—Round and slightly star-shaped.        -   Flower size.—Up to 10 cm in diameter and 2 cm in depth.        -   Flower sex.—Bisexual.        -   Receptacle.—146B in color and 4 mm in diameter.        -   Bracts.—Simple, lanceolate in shape, up to 4 cm in length            and 2 cm in width, acute apex, margins are entire, cuneate            base, venation is reticulate, both surfaces sparsely            pubescent and slightly glossy, color; upper surface 146A,            lower surface 146B.        -   Tepal number.—8 on spring flowers, 6 on summer flowers.        -   Tepal shape.—Broadly elliptic to ovate.        -   Tepal aspect.—Flat and overlapping.        -   Tepal apex.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Tepal base.—Cuneate.        -   Tepal margin.—Entire, spring flowers distinctly wavy, summer            flowers short wavy.        -   Tepal surface.—Upper surface; glabrous, lower surface;            pubescent and almost velvety, center is densely pubescent.        -   Tepal color.—Spring flowers upper and lower surface when            opening and fully open; 93D, 94C, N88D tinged 77B in the            middle near the base, summer flowers upper and lower surface            when opening and fully open; 92B and 155C in the middle            towards the base.        -   Tepal size.—Up to 5 cm in length and an average of 3.5 cm in            width.        -   Petaloid staminodes.—None Present.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Covered by outer stamens, average of 50 pistils,            up to 1 cm in length, ovary; 143C in color and pubescent,            style; NN155A in color, plumose up to ⅔, upper ⅓ glabrous,            stigma; straight to slightly bent in aspect, 145D in color,            glabrous surface.        -   Androecium.—75 to 100, filaments; up to 1.1 cm in length, 1            mm in width and linear in shape, surface is glabrous, 145D            in color, anthers; 6 mm in length, 1 mm in width, linear in            shape, and 145D in color, glabrous surface, pollen; 4D in            color and abundant in quantity, connective; straight in            aspect, surface is glabrous and 145B in color, tip tinged            N186A in color.        -   Seed.—Seed head; up to 4 cm in diameter, half orbicular in            shape, 50% of the pistils might set seed by open            pollination, seed; average of 25 per seed head, 4 mm in            length and width, 71A, strongly tinged 144B in color,            pubescent, seed style; up to 2 cm in length, 144B in color,            surface 164D in color, seed stigma; thin and 200A in color.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Clematis plant named‘Zo08160’ as herein illustrated and described.